Scaly leg mites or injury?

[lavenderforluck]

One of our sweet Splash Marans, Rosie, started limping 2-3 days ago. She is between 7-8 months old and has been laying for a few months. She also has been resting a lot - both the limping and resting are abnormal behavior for her. We have pretty much ruled out her being egg bound and she does not have any signs of bumble foot. She has no visible injury. She does seem to be holding up primarily her left foot.

We are down to scaly leg mites or a strain, internal injury. I’ve attached some pictures I hopes of seeing if it could be the beginning of scaly leg mites? It doesn’t look like any pictures I’ve seen of leg mites but thought maybe it’s just the start of it. I put VetRx and a coat of A&D on her legs and feet just in case. We regularly clean out their coop and use First Saturday Lime and haven’t had mite issues in the past, but I know it can be common.

I saw a few folks recommend a 1/2 a baby aspirin to see if it’s a strain - they noted if she seems better after the aspirin, it’s likely a strain or injury. We will try that today.

She is otherwise in good spirits, eating, drinking and using the bathroom (as of this morning).

Any advice or thoughts are so appreciated! We will continue treating her for scaly leg mites just in case. If it is mites, how long until they start feeling better with treatment?

 

[Painted Calls]

I do not see any indication of SLM. SLM would not likely cause the lameness you described either. Not unless it was a horrible infestation.

She most likely pulled something and is sore.

 

[LaFleche]

I can see a very long pin feather on the outer toe of her left leg which might cause the pain when trying to walk as it will pinch into her skin every time she sets the foot to the ground. Additionally there is a swelling on the outer side of the ledt middle toe, she might have twisted it while tying to avoid ground contact with the outer toe.

You could trim back the pinfeathers and see if she will be better, or even pull the hindering ones completely.

 

[lavenderforluck]

I do not see any indication of SLM. SLM would not likely cause the lameness you described either. Not unless it was a horrible infestation.

She most likely pulled something and is sore.

Thank you for your reply! We will give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and make sure she gets rest so she can heal. Is there anything else we should look out for in terms of other ailments or sicknesses? If she would look pale or sickly we would take her to a local vet that sees chickens, but she seems healthy otherwise.

 

[lavenderforluck]

I can see a very long pin feather on the outer toe of her left leg which might cause the pain when trying to walk as it will pinch into her skin every time she sets the foot to the ground. Additionally there is a swelling on the outer side of the ledt middle toe, she might have twisted it while tying to avoid ground contact with the outer toe.

You could trim back the pinfeathers and see if she will be better, or even pull the hindering ones completely.

I’ll have to look up feather removal/trimming as this isn’t something we’ve had to do before. Is this very painful for them? Anything to note while doing it?

 

[Painted Calls]

Thank you for your reply! We will give her 1/2 a baby aspirin and make sure she gets rest so she can heal. Is there anything else we should look out for in terms of other ailments or sicknesses? If she would look pale or sickly we would take her to a local vet that sees chickens, but she seems healthy otherwise.

As long as poop looks fine, crop empties every morning, and her eating/drinking habits don't change, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[LaFleche]

I’ll have to look up feather removal/trimming as this isn’t something we’ve had to do before. Is this very painful for them? Anything to note while doing it?

Trimming will not be painful but pulling can be. I any case I would only do so if the quills show no blood.
As I do not know the correct expression in English, I will try to describe it: What I mean is that when new feathers come in the quills will still be filled with blood. As soon as the growth of the feathers is finished, the blood will withdraw and the pinfeathers can be trimmed without causing them to bleed or risking infection.